• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

FIGHT BANANAS

Crazy about fights.

  • Home
  • MMA News
  • Boxing News
  • Shop
    • Jonny Bones Jones
    • My Fight Shirt
    • Roy Jones Jr
  • Advertise on Fight Bananas

Kamaru Usman claims Colby Covington made ‘huge mistake’ turning down Leon Edwards fight

February 22, 2021 by Ross Markey

Usman
Mandatory Credit: Josh Hedges – Zuffa LLC

Undisputed UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman maintains former-foe, Colby Covington made as he put it, a “huge mistake” in his refusal to take a short-notice March 13th. headlining spot against fellow contender, Leon Edwards.

Usman, who is fresh from his third successful title retention, knocked back former Sanford MMA teammate, Gilbert Burns at UFC 258 a fortnight ago, stopping the Brazilian with third round strikes, is now campaigning for a full-camp rematch against Jorge Masvidal.
Despite already taking home a shutout unanimous decision win over the BMF champion back at UFC 251 in July last on ‘Fight Island’, the Auchi native claims he wants to leave Masvidal with no excuses this time around, following his six-day notice draft-in last summer.
Originally, it seemed the next welterweight title challenge following Burns would come in the form of either the above mentioned, Edwards or then-scheduled foe, Khamzat Chimaev. Still dealing with numerous health issues amid a positive COVID-19 test result late last year, Chimaev was forced to withdraw from the March 13th. main event against the streaking Edwards.
In his place steps another victor from UFC 258 — the surging, Belal Muhammad who makes his main event debut under the UFC’s scrutiny. With the UFC planning to initially field a March 13th. matchup between Covington and Edwards in an almost certain title-eliminator, Covington explained that he had no interest in possibly doing “charity” for Edwards by taking a short-notice bout.
Speaking with MMA Junkie recently, defending champion, Usman told how he believes Covington made quite the error refusing to matchup with Edwards on short-notice — missing the opportunity to remind fans of his presence following his September stoppage win over Tyron Woodley.
“I think he (Colby Covington) made a huge mistake, a tremendous mistake,” Usman said. “Who turns down a paycheck? He turned down a paycheck. That’s horrible. You can’t do that. I mean, maybe he’s not hurting for money. But you can’t turn down a paycheck. Then on top of it, you turned down a chance to really remind the fans.”

“I understand, you’ve got to win,” Usman said. “But that’s one win in how long? (Tyron) Woodley’s coming off a two-fight, three-fight skid. It’s a tough one to basically say, ‘Oh, all right, you’ve got one win. You’re back.’ For a guy that’s coming off a two, three-fight skid, that was a tough one.“

With Covington’s decision against some philanthropic efforts as he claims, that may leave him as he odd man out at 170-pounds, especially if he hopes to challenge for Octagon gold in his next outing.
Usman seems keen on a rematch with Masvidal, as does the Floridian. And with Edwards slated to return against Muhammad, that would leave Covington in need of a win over someone like the above mentioned, Burns or former two-time title challenger, Stephen Thompson to catapult him to contention again.
Covington claimed the interim welterweight crown against former lightweight best, Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225 in June of 2018, with nasal surgery sidelining him and resulting in his stripping of the title. Challenging for undisputed spoils at UFC 245 in December of 2019, Covington dropped an eventual fifth round knockout loss to Usman in an instant classic matchup.
Ross Markey

Related

Filed Under: MMA, News Tagged With: colby Covington, Kamaru Usman, leon Edwards, ufc, UFC Vegas 21

Primary Sidebar

Find It Here

Podcast

iKON 5 Preview Show Podcast

BKFC’s KnuckleMania Super Star Taylor “Killa Bee” Starling Tells ALL

David Feldman, President of Bare Knuckle FC talks all things KnuckleMania

Fight Island Preview

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Email

Highlights

Sandhagen

Cory Sandhagen: Petr Yan was served the belt on a silver platter

March 1, 2021 By Ross Markey

Streaking UFC bantamweight contender, Cory Sandhagen certainly isn't impressed with the way in which current undisputed titleholder, Petr Yan earned his moniker as the division's pacesetter -- claiming the champion … Continue Reading about Cory Sandhagen: Petr Yan was served the belt on a silver platter

Xiaonan

Report – Yan Xiaonan vs. Carla Esparza added to UFC Fight Night 192 on May 22nd.

February 27, 2021 By Ross Markey

A potential strawweight title-eliminator between surging contender, Yan Xiaonan and inaugural UFC and Invicta FC 115-pound champion, Carla Esparza has been booked for a UFC Fight Night 192 event on May 22nd. -- with … Continue Reading about Report – Yan Xiaonan vs. Carla Esparza added to UFC Fight Night 192 on May 22nd.

Gamrot

Report – Scott Holtzman vs. Mateusz Gamrot set for UFC Fight Night 188 on April 10th.

February 27, 2021 By Ross Markey

An exciting lightweight matchup between promotional mainstay, Scott 'Hot Sauce' Holtzman and recent organizational newcomer, Mateusz 'Gamer' Gamrot has been added to a UFC Fight Night 188 event on April 10th. -- … Continue Reading about Report – Scott Holtzman vs. Mateusz Gamrot set for UFC Fight Night 188 on April 10th.

Weili

Report – Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas targeted for UFC 261 on April 24th.

February 26, 2021 By Ross Markey

A strawweight title matchup between reigning champion, Zhang 'Magnum' Weili, and former titleholder, 'Thug' Rose Namajunas is currently in the works for UFC 261 on April 24th. -- with the UFC Apex facility in Las … Continue Reading about Report – Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas targeted for UFC 261 on April 24th.

Mix

Report – Patchy Mix vs. James Gallagher in the works for Bellator 258 on May 7th.

February 26, 2021 By Ross Markey

A potential Bellator MMA bantamweight title-eliminator between recent championship challenger, Patchy 'No Love' Mix and streaking submission specialist, James 'The Strabanimal' Gallagher is currently targeted to … Continue Reading about Report – Patchy Mix vs. James Gallagher in the works for Bellator 258 on May 7th.

Copyright © 2019 - FightBananas.com | All Rights Reserved | Designed & Powered by The One Stop Blog Shop
✕